Friday, January 30, 2009

Fast forward a couple of years... this is from our drive to Houston to embark on our cruise. Not a great picture, but this was before the time of the digital camera, so you never knew what you were getting until the film was developed. Now a days I probably would've deleted it off the camera long before it ever made it to the computer.

The structure in the distance is this huge (and a little scary) suspension bridge that leads us to our port. The structure in the foreground is our suitcase.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

I guess this is fair since I never completed my profile, but it's probably more than any of you wanted to know...

1. I could never marry a man who watches football.

2. I hate taking showers. It's just more work that I have to do at the end of the day that cuts into my free time.

3. I love Jeopardy! I started watching it with my Grandma when she used to babysit us, and I've watched it ever since.

4. I recently bought my first pair of regular socks in over 10 years. When I actually do wear socks I always wear those low, low running ones. Then last week, I stepped outside into the zero degree weather and my ankles were cold. So, I decided to buy a few regular pairs.

5. If I watch a movie on TV at night on the couch, I will fall asleep before its over. However, if I watch a movie at night, in bed, I'll stay up for then end of the movie and then probably stay up to watch the Daily Show too.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Post your first picture from your first folder in your "Pictures" file on your computer (even if it's not a great picture) and explain, if necessary. On the next one, post your second picture from your second folder, and so on. If you have tons of pictures going back a few years like I do, it should be interesting. So, here goes nothing...

Folder 1, Picture 1 - Christmas 2001 at Mom's House

This was the first Christmas after Graduation. It was the end of a very crazy week for J and I. We had just graduated, moved to Alabama and started new jobs. We drove up to IL for Christmas, and then got caught in an ice storm driving home. I think it was the last time we drove to my Mom's from Huntsville. Only flying from that point on.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Around the House: Well, I just found out that we will be moving once again later this spring. (Big sigh...) Our landlords are moving into this house at the end of our lease in May, so we will be finding a new house soon.

The upside(s)? We have a much better knowledge of the city and where the good neighborhoods are. We have more than a few hours to look at houses this time. We are not moving across the country. And most importantly, we can move ourselves. With a little help with wrangling kids from Grandmas, of course. Also, I kept all of our packing supplies from last time, so I can pack at my leisure.

In the Kitchen: Not anything exciting going on there. I have started my Sunday cooking marathons again, where I try to prepare 3 or 4 dinners in one afternoon to be reheated later in the week. We had grilled cheese or scrambled eggs almost every night last week, because I was too lazy to cook, so I'm trying to make up for it.

New with Embry: Embry has recently begun to count out loud when we are in the car on the way home from school. She used to start counting when we got close to home, since she could only count to 20 or so without help. She has become much more ambitious lately. She loves that she can get to 100 and beyond, so she makes us start counting as soon as she gets into the car. And so we count the entire way home, all 20 minutes. Often we get to 400 or more. Luckily, she has started to forget about it some days. Whew! That is a lot of counting!

New with Matthew: Matthew received a wooden "Melissa & Doug" puzzle for his birthday with 5 shapes. Although he doesn't quite understand the point of the puzzle, he plays with it all the time. Mainly he removes all the pieces and throws them on the floor, with the exception of the circle which he likes to carry around the house all day. When he does attempt to put the pieces back in, he ALWAYS puts the circle in the square hole. Apparently it goes better there than in its own place.

I am Thankful For: My yummy potato and corn chowder in the fridge, just waiting to be warmed up. No mess, no clean-up tonight, yea!

The Weather Outside: Cold, but not too much and a little bit of snow this morning.

I am Obsessing About: Getting my taxes filed. I know it's early but, I like to have this stuff done as soon as I can. I'm just waiting for one more form to come in the mail then I'm finished!

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Last night was Embry's school outing to the Magic House. Embry and I went by ourselves since Matthew goes to bed at 7 and the event didn't even start until 6. When we first arrived, we ate pizza and cookies. Then I just let Embry wander wherever she wanted. I followed close behind, of course. It was nice for Embry to be able to play on her own schedule instead of having to go where everyone else wanted or to stop playing because I had to take care of her little brother. She could take her time and if she wanted to spend 35 minutes at the sand table, then she could (and did!). She had a great time and didn't even throw too much of a fit when it was time to go. Getting her to bed when we got home was a different story, however...

Monday, January 12, 2009

Around the House: Most things back to normal this week. It's a full week of school and work. Finally got the basement cleaned up, and all Christmas stuff put away where it actually belongs. Next project is to round up all the kids old clothes and see what can be given away and what can be sold on eBay. After that... I'll get ready for yard sale season. I have so much baby stuff around the house that Matthew has grown out of, and it all needs to go.

In the Kitchen: Saturday is Magic House Night for the kids at Embry's school and I have pledged a few dozen cookies and some juice. I find it hard to volunteer my time at these events, since I don't quite feel comfortable letting Embry run around the museum by herself. But, I can always donate baked goods. Plus I need an excuse to bake. I haven't made anything since Christmas, and I was starting to go through cookie withdrawal.

New with Embry: Embry loves to cut paper. She is slightly obsessed with cutting and pasting lately. I got her a couple of books from the Kumon series. They are great for days when we are stuck inside and I need something quiet for her to do. She also got a whole set of different edged scissors (or "curly scissors" as she calls them) which she uses to turn her scrap paper into very creative confetti.

New with Matthew: Starting to talk a little. Says "ball" and "mama." But mostly he just likes to imitate sounds. He walks around saying "Shhhtthh" and "Wwwwnnnnn."

I'm Thankful For: The refrigerator back up and running. We had a burned out heating unit last week and got lucky to find someone to fix it within a couple of days. I am so glad that it was cold enough outside that we could keep our milk and stuff on the back porch for 2 days while we waited.

The Weather Outside: It's been pretty mild the last few days... a bit of snow, but nothing substantial. We are, however, bracing for a cold snap tonight. Temps around zero with wind chills at -15. Brrr.

I'm Obsessing About: Can't wait for new TV shows to start up again. A new Scrubs episode tomorrow, new Office and 30 Rock on Thursday. And soon, new seasons of Big Love and The Tudors (best thing ever on Showtime!).

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Wobbly Shoes - def. high heeled Disney Princess shoes that Embry got for Christmas from her aunt. They are about 5 sizes too big and she can barely walk in them, so she uses them for airplanes for her small stuffed animals.